Week in the Caucasus: review of main events of February 17-23

Completion of Winter Olympic Games in Sochi; solidarity actions with the Kiev Euromaidan held in Tbilisi and Yerevan; 70 years after start of Stalin's deportation of Chechens and Ingushes; conviction of former Prime Minister of Georgia Vano Merabishvili, legal recognition of life sentence to Ali Taziev, who, according tolaw enforcers, was one of militants' leaders in Northern Caucasus; continued pumping Azerbaijani oil through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline, – read about these and other major events in the review of week of February 17-23, 2014, prepared by the "Caucasian Knot".

Winter Olympic Games are over in Sochi

On February 23, the "Fisht" Stadium in Sochi hosted the solemn closing ceremony of the 22^nd Winter Olympic Games. Russia is the winner of the informal team medal count with its 13 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals.

The second week of the Olympics was fruitful for Russia; and athletes won several gold medals, which became the first ever in some sports; for example, the Russian figure skater Adelina Sotnikova; both men's bobsleigh teams (doubles and fours); two golden awards of the Russian Vic Wild, a former American, in parallel slalom and giant slalom; as well as two gold medals in short track skating – in men's team event and individual 500 meter race, won by Victor An, a famous South-Korean, who now competes for the Russian Federation.

A few hours before the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sochi, Olga Noskovets and David Khakim, civil society activists, were detained. According to their lawyer, the activists were detained without explanations and charged with disobeying the demands of a policeman (Part 1 of Article 19.3 of the Russian Administrative Code). Noskovets was also detained on February 17, but then released a few hours later from the police without explaining the reasons. On the same day David Khakim was also detained. He was sentenced to 30 hours of corrective works for his picket in Sochi. On February 18 in Sochi member of punk band Pussy Riot were detained, but then released from the police.

Residents of Tbilisi and Yerevan hold rally of solidarity with the Kiev Euromaidan

Last week's events in Ukraine, where mass protests of supporters of European integration continue and are accompanied by riots, did not leave citizens of Armenia and Georgia indifferent. In Tbilisi and Yerevan, actions were held, which supported the demands of the Ukrainian opposition, expressed regret over the violent resolution of confrontation and condolences to casualties' families. In Yerevan, on February 20, the action was held in the form of a march; and on the same day in Tbilisi a rally was held in front of the former parliament building; two more actions were held on February 21 and 22. Let us note here that during the events in Kiev, three Georgian and one Armenia citizens were lost.

Chechnya: 70 years since Stalin's deportation of Chechens

February 23 marked the 70^th anniversary of the start of deportation of Chechens and Ingushes, during which, according to the International Society "Memorial", 485,000 people were deported from the territory of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic to Kazakhstan and Central Asia in 1944. No official events were held in Chechnya on this date, since under the decision of the republic's authorities the mourning ceremonies to commemorate the deportation are now held annually on May 10. It is notable that on February 12 in Grozny they began dismantling the memorial complex to the victims of Stalin's deportation, which was built in 1992 on the order of the then Chechen President Johar Dudaev – the gravestones monuments (churts) were transported and installed in a new location – in Akhmat Kadyrov Avenue.

Georgia: former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili sentenced to five years in colony

On February 17, the Kutaisi City Court of Georgia sentenced the former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili to five years of imprisonment on charges of bribing voters, embezzlement of public funds and fraudulent use of his official powers. The episodes considered by the court included the dispersal of the protest action on May 25, 2011, in Tbilisi. According to the investigation, the order to disperse the action was given by the then Minister of Interior Merabishvili; and his appropriation of a summer cottage on the Black Sea shore. Another figurant in the case – the ex-governor of Kakheti Zurab Chiaberashvili – will have to pay the imposed fine. Both defendants expressed their disagreement with the verdict and plan to appeal against it.

Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upholds Ali Taziev's life sentence

On February 18, the Russia's Supreme Court upheld the life imprisonment for a native of Ingushetia Ali Taziev (according to power agents, he had the call sign "Magas"), who was charged with the creation and command of armed groups involved in a number of very grave crimes. Taziev was sentenced to life in prison on October 15, 2013, by decision of the North-Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. He admitted his guilt in part; and his lawyers tried to challenge the verdict at the Supreme Court.

Azerbaijan will continue pumping oil through Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline

On February 18, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Russian company "Transneft" signed a new agreement on oil transportation through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. This was done after the expiry, in early February, of the obligations of the "Transneft" on the transit of Azerbaijani oil, and the company's statement that it was ready to complete the conservation of the unused section Makhachkala-Baku by pumping an inert gas into the line. The "Transneft" had planned to finish pumping oil on February 14. On that day it became known that the SOCAR had turned to the Russian company with a request to discuss the prolongation of the agreement, which was done. Experts drew attention to the closeness of the agreement on oil transit, primarily, to the lack of information about terms and tariffs.